Why the Oklahoma Running Back Room is 'Hungry' After Inconsistent Start to 2023

NORMAN — The Oklahoma Sooners seem to always have a stable of talented running backs at their disposal.

From Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon, to Rodney Anderson and Trey Sermon, to Kennedy Brooks and Eric Gray, OU has regularly had at least one running back who was a clear-cut offensive weapon out of the backfield.

Even last year when the Sooners had their worst season in over 20 years, Gray still recorded 1,366 rushing yards and 229 receiving yards. With the former Tennessee transfer now in the NFL, Oklahoma has had to lean on a four-man rotation in the backfield.

So far this season, Marcus Major, Tawee Walker, Jovantae Barnes and Gavin Sawchuk have all gotten an opportunity in one of OU's four contests. So far, none of the aforementioned players has taken the reigns and established themselves as a No. 1 running back.

Walker leads the team in yards and touches, with 34 carries for 176 yards and two touchdowns in four games. The walk-on running back also has five catches for 52 yards on the year.

Major has notched 32 carries for 133 yards this season, while Barnes has 28 carries for 122 yards in 2023. Sawchuk rounds out the group, recording 10 carries for 26 yards so far this season.

After a stellar bowl game performance in late 2022 that saw Barnes and Sawchuk both run for 100 yards against Florida State, many OU fans came into the season optimistic that the two second-year players would put themselves in position to be the next great Oklahoma running back duo.

While there is still plenty of time for Barnes and Sawchuk in their collegiate careers, the two have not seen the field nearly as much as fans or media thought they would in 2023.

Earlier in the year, offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby reiterated that the Sooners are trying to "get 2 (Barnes) and 27 (Sawchuk) going". So far, however, the two have failed to "get going" as Lebby hoped.

This season, Oklahoma is averaging less than four yards per carry. The team is also coming off of a season-low 103 rushing yards against the Cincinnati Bearcats.

With so much rotation in the backfield, it seems that none of OU's running backs have been able to find a consistent rhythm. After practice on Monday, Walker chalked up the inconsistencies in playing time to the Sooners' talent in the running back room.

"With how talented our backfield is," Walker said. "You just have to capitalize on all your opportunities and make sure you're doing the right thing to keep you in there so (running backs coach DeMarco Murray) keeps you in there. You just have to worry about your assignment. You can't worry about who's getting in what. Just make sure you capitalize on your opportunity."

Walker has capitalized on his opportunity this season, being the only Oklahoma player to recorded a 100-yard game on the ground in 2023. The former Palomar College (CA) tailback ran for 117 yards on 21 carries against SMU in week two.

In the two games since his breakout performance, Walker has only received five carries out of the backfield, leaving fans wondering what it will take for Walker, Major or Barnes backs to establish themselves as the team's lead back.

At his weekly press conference on Tuesday, head coach Brent Venables echoed this sentiment, saying that in 2022, Gray set himself apart from the rest of the group.

"Eric Gray had established himself," Venables said. "We’d love for somebody to establish themselves. That hasn’t happened yet."

With the competition for the OU's main running back spot seemingly still open, the Sooners' backfield is hoping to making more of an impact going forward.

"Yeah everyone's just very hungry and loves to run the ball," Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel said after practice on Monday. "So that's a good thing. And I think all four of them have done a great job at doing that. So for them just continue to work and compete and also, you know, when their time is there to take advantage of it."

For Major, a redshirt senior, the time is now to step up and take control of the Sooners' running back room. Against Cincinnati, the 219-pound back led the team in carries and managed to break off a few nice runs, including a 19-yard tote on 3rd-and-long.

While Major's performance could have been better, he still showed flashes of how talented he could be if he is able to earn consistent carries. The veteran tailback also flashed against SMU, catching a screen pass a breaking multiple tackles on his way to a 27-yard touchdown catch that iced the Mustangs in Norman.

Marcus Major puts the game away for the #Sooners against SMU.

Check out my full highlight video: https://t.co/45KQHYvc4H pic.twitter.com/Qp2HLjaEpi
— Randall Sweet (@RandallSweet5) September 10, 2023

When asked about Major, Walker said that his teammate has become a more vocal leader and that he is laser-focused on being the best version of himself this season.

"I think (Major) just wants it more this year," Walker said. "I was only around two years, so I don't can't really go too in-depth in it. He just had a couple of injuries, but this year he's really hungry. You can tell at practice, off the field, in the facility. He's hungry this year. He really wants it this year."

If Major, Walker, Barnes or Sawchuk are able to find a rhythm and become the team's lead back, it would be a huge boost for an Oklahoma offense that has struggled to run the ball in 2023.

With such a talented wide receiver core that has played extremely well through the first four weeks of the season, the Sooners' running back room is still looking to fully get going. If OU is able to add a solid ground game to what has already been an impressive aerial attack, Lebby and company will find much more success on offense as the year progresses.

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